Gathering celebrates Indian languages
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By Tami Althoff
Published: October 24, 2006

NORMAN — Elton Yellowfish is a full-blood Comanche, one of few who can speak his native language fluently.

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Terrence Atkins, 9, of Norman dances Friday at the Intertribal Wordpath Society’s Celebration of Oklahoma Language and Culture at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Norman. . BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN For more information on the society, call 447-6103 or go online to

www.ahalenia.com/iws.

"There are not very many of us left," Yellowfish said Friday night at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds where he was attending the ninth annual Celebration of Oklahoma Language and Culture. "In this contemporary society, we are the minority. We get lost in the shuffle."

Yellowfish was among several American Indians who gathered Friday to honor the Indian languages of Oklahoma. The evening began with gourd dancing to the drum of Ernest Toppah and friends.

Terrence Atkins, 9, of Norman, an Otoe, was in native dress from head to toe. He hopped from one foot to the next, dancing along to the beat of the drum with men and women five times his age.

"I look at other people and just learn," he said. "It's fun."

Following the dance, cultural presentations were given in the Pawnee, Comanche, Cheyenne, Chickasaw and Kiowa languages. Sharing stories were Dorna Riding In (Pawnee), Beatrice Saupitty (Comanche), Carlin Thompson (Chickasaw) and LeRoy Sealy (Choctaw).

Yellowfish said the presentations are important because languages retain individuality more than dance and material culture do. That's why it's so important for elders to teach the language.

"Anything today that's related to saving and keeping our history, our culture, alive is important to me. It's important to my niece and to my granddaughter," he said. "If we don't make the effort to learn, to take part, we'll lose it faster than we think. We'll lose our identity."

Yellowfish said learning their native language is more important to young people today than it was 20 years ago.

"It's the thing to do now," he said. "I hope it continues. I hope it grows."

Events like Friday's encourage parents and grandparents to pass their heritage to younger generations, he added.

"It's important that the parents know it's their mission. Young people will not know if their parents don't teach them," he said. "If the parents don't know, it's never too late to learn. Then, pass it on as soon as you can before it's too late. We have to foster it, nurture it, and keep it going."

The celebration was sponsored by the Intertribal Wordpath Society, a private foundation that promotes the teaching, awareness, status and use of Oklahoma Indian languages.